# Summary of H.R. 5457: Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development Act of 2023
This legislation establishes a comprehensive federal research and development program focused on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it. The bill directs nine federal agencies—including the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Interior, and Transportation, plus the EPA, NASA, and the National Science Foundation—to conduct research on various carbon removal technologies and methods.
The bill authorizes approximately $3.5 billion over ten fiscal years (2024-2033) to support research, development, and demonstration projects across six main carbon removal approaches: direct air capture and storage, carbon mineralization, biomass-based removal, forest restoration and management, soil carbon management, and ocean-based removal. The Department of Energy receives the largest share, with $2.089 billion authorized for fiscal year 2024 alone, primarily for demonstration projects ranging from $10 million to over $100 million each. Federal cost-sharing requirements vary, with the government potentially covering up to 100 percent of smaller projects.
The legislation requires agencies to assess environmental and social impacts of these technologies, including effects on biodiversity, food security, and local communities. It also mandates international coordination on carbon removal research and establishes new organizational structures within the Department of Energy to oversee the federal effort. The bill affects researchers, universities, private companies, state and local governments, and farming and forest communities that would participate in or benefit from these funded initiatives.